Favourite Hairstyles with Saya Designs Hair Sticks

There are many beautiful stories that can exist behind ethical and sustainable products, but one of my absolute favourites is taking something that would otherwise go to waste and turning it into something not only useable, but beautiful. It’s why I was so excited to share the story of Berg + Betts watches (made of up-cycled leather scraps). Today, I’m sharing another gorgeous item that is also made of so-called “waste”: hair sticks from Saya Designs.

When founder of Saya Designs, Victoria, moved to Bali in search of a more meaningful career, she learned about the effects of deforestation firsthand and sought out to do something about it. Having a background in visual arts, Victoria decided to design her own products to help further the circular economy, and so Saya Designs was born.

The wood used for the hairpins in salvaged from the roots of old plantations in Indonesia, essentially natural waste which would otherwise not contribute much nutrients to the soil after they finally decompose a few hundred years later. The wood is then carved (ethically, of course) in Bali. What I find especially unique is that the design is inspired by the local flora and fauna of Indonesia, adding yet another layer of meaning to the hair sticks. As if that wasn’t enough, Saya Designs also partners with an organization called GAIA, and for every hair stick purchased, up to 10 endangered species of trees are planted. There is just so much to love about this brand, which is why I am so excited to share my favourite ways to wear their Taro hair stick.

But before we jump into it – I want to assure you that I, too, was pretty skeptical about the idea of some stick being able to hold up all my hair. Even with my relatively long (and heavy) hair, though, I found that after a few practice rounds of learning how to properly weave the stick in and out of numerous layers of hair, it was surprisingly sturdy!

This is the easiest of the bunch – you just collect your hair in your hands, twist it tightly, wrap it around, tuck the ends of your hair underneath the bun and then weave the hair stick in and out of multiple layers of hair. You can position the bun anywhere you’d like – high, low, wherever. Done!

I love the kind of “medieval princess” vibe this style gives off – classic and elegant, yet still playful. First you braid your hair, and then roll or fold the braid up to your head starting from the bottom (or you can also wrap the braid around the point where the braid starts). Then, you weave the stick in and out of multiple layers of hair to keep it in place. It’s such a great alternative for when you want your hair back and away, but are tired of wearing standard buns.

This one’s pretty cool, because it looks like you braided your hair upside down, but you didn’t 😉 You start by french braiding your hair, and then folding the braid in half and back up. Tuck the end of the braid into the top, and then slide the hairpin through the top, again making sure to weave it through multiple layers of hair. And that’s it! It looks much more complicated than it actually is!

There you have it – some of my favourite ways to wear the Taro hair stick from Saya Designs. Which look is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below!

Disclosure: this post was kindly sponsored by Saya Designs. To learn more about my disclosure policy, click here.